augusts vuillb



P. A. VUILL'E. I Stem-Winding and Setting Attachment for Watches,

No. 225,542; Patented' Mar. 16 1880.

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N.PETERs, PHDTmLITHoGRAPHER, WASHMGTONLDIQ UNITED STATES P. AUGUSTE VUILLE, OF CHAUX DE FONDS, SWITZERLAND.

PATENT OEEI STEM W|ND |NG AND SETTING ATTACHMENT FOR WATCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,542, dated March 16, 1880.

Application filed December 24, 1879.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, P. AUGUSTE VUILLE, of Chaux de Fonds, Republic of Switzerland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Watches, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates more particularly to that class of watches known as stem-winding.77 The principal advantages obtained thereby are found in the fewness of parts, the simplicity, compactness,'and solidity ofthe mounting and movement, and the means of securing the movement in the case, and the capacity for ready repair, inasmuch as all the part-s can be readily supplied by any watchmaker.

Theinvention comprises improvementin the construction ofthe mounting for the movement; in the main plate and combination of parts therewith, in the mechanism for winding the watchhnd setting the hands, composed of a tilting lever with suitable wheels arranged on the face of the main plate, that is just beneath the dial; in the special construction of this mechanism, and in the construct-ion ofthe push pin for placing said mechanism in gear for setting the hands, all as hereinafter more fully set forth.

It is unnecessary here to describe the several kinds of watches heretofore manufactured, as my present invention and its advantages, as above stated, will be readily perceived and appreciated by those skilled in theart without such description. With regard, however, to the mechanism for winding the watch and setting the hands, I would say that while a tilting lever carrying these gears has been used, so far as I am aware, it has always been located back of the main plate, and the parts are also differently constructed.

In order that the invention and the manner of carrying the same into effect may more clearly appear, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a front view of the improved watch with dial removed; and Figs. 2 and 3,a back and detail View, respectively.

The same letters indicate like parts where they occur.

A main plate, A, and a three-quarter top plate, B, secured together by screws a', inclose between them the greater part of the train, the escapement and balance-wheel being supported by bridges attached to the main plate. The opposing faces of the two plates are recessed to receive the wheels of the train, which have bearings in said plates. The number of the wheels in the train and the escapement are such as are common in watches, and need no description. The escapement shown is known as cylinder-escapement; but other forms, as the anchor-escapement, could be used, au additional supporting-bridge bein g required for the latter.

The face of the main plate, which lies just below the dial, (see Fig. 1,) is recessed to receive the wheels l 2 3 4, which impart motion from the central arbor to the hour-hand.

From the back a circular opening is made to contain the barrel 5 g but a portion, a, is left on the face to form a bridge for support for the arbor thereof. The barrel-bridge is thus formed out of the thickness of the main plate. Below this bridge a is the winding-wheel 6, which is in the same plane with the wheel 2. Near the periphery of the main plate is a circular groove, b, which is formed circular for convenience in turning. Its depth is sufficient to receive the fixed ends of the spring o and click d, so that they are flush with the upper surface ofthe main plate. The spring and click have their fixed ends conformed to the shape of this groove, and are held by means of a single screw each. The click or springpawl, formed of a single piece of metal, engages with the teeth on the winding-wheel 6, and allows it to turn in one direction only.

Three wheels, cj' g, are held in position in a recess in the main plate by means of the lever 7L and a single screw, v2. The latter screws into a cylindrical projection on the face-plate. The three wheels ef g tit over cylindrical projections from the back of the lever hf, formed in one piece therewith, and mesh with each other. They are in the same plane as the wheels 2 and 6.

The projection upon which the wheel j" turns is hollow and encircles the projection from the main plate above mentioned. The construction is clearly shown in Fig. 3.

From the side of the main and three-quar- IOO rming the mounting for the move- .inding-arbor, 7c, projects. At the squared, and at the lower end carries eel 7, which engages with the wheel j'. lever lt at one end is grooved on the face side to leave a projection, t, against which the free end of the spring c rests. Below this end of the lever a narrow and deep recess, l, is formed through the main plate to the threequarter plate, into which recess is an opening from the side. A pin extends from the back of the projection 71. into said recess.

The casing G is formed with a middle ring, in the usual way, and a pendant, D, at one side. In this pendant is a central opening, through which the key-pipe m, attached to the crown-piece m', extends, and in which it is free to turn. The crown-piece and key-pipe are held in position by a screw or pin on the pendant, which projects into an annular groove in the outside ot the key-pipe.

At the side ofthe pendant, Fig. l, is an opening, through which the push-pin n projects. This push-pin is formed of a single piece of metal wire, with projections u formed integral therewith, by forcing up or turning oft' the metal. rlhese projections' u' limit the movement outward ofthe pin. In order to secure the movement in the case the crownpiece and key-pipe are removed. rlhe winding-arbor is inserted in the hole in the pendant, and the inner end oi' the pin va is made to project into the recess I. rIhe crown-piece and key-pi pe are then secured in position, with the squared end of the winding-arbor within the key-pipe, which is squared also, the screw is turned, and the movement is solidly connected with the case. There is, ofcourse. the usual rim on the periphery7 of the main plate. The push-pin n rests against the pin at the back of the projection h', and when depressed oscillates the lever h. When released the spring o returns it.

At p, Fig. l, are two holes, in which the pins attached to the back of the dialplate are placed to secure the latter in position.

At q r are shown plates which tit in recesses in the main plate, and ot' which gis small and of brass, and holds one of the jewels of the balance-wheel arbor, and r aids in retaining this plate in position, and to it the bridge supporting the opposite end ot the balance-arbor is secured by two small pins and a screw.

rlhe movement can be placed in a case ot' any kind, ofthe proper size, as the crown-piece and key-pipe form a part of the case and not of the movement.

The operation of winding the watch is effected by turning the crown-piece so as to r0- tate the winding-wheel in the proper direction. By pushing upon the pin n the lever h is tilted, so that the wheel g engages with the wheel 2. rlhe hands can then be set by turning the crown-piece.

65 When the lever is in its normal position,

if the crown-piece be rotated in a direction opposite to that for winding the watch, the ei'ect is simply to tilt the lever 7L slightly as each tooth passes.

Having thus fully described my said invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a stem-winding watch, the windingarbor held between the main and three-quai'- ter plates, which inolose and carry also the train ofthe watch, substantially as described.

2. The barrel-bridge, formed in one piece with the main plate, in combination with the barrel-arbor, supported thereby, and the winding-wheel, turning on said arbor under the bridge and exposed at one side, substantially as described.

3. lThe combination, with the main plate and barrel-bridge, formed in one piece therewith, ot' the winding-wheel turning beneath said bridge, and the click, formed of a single piece of steel, let into the face ot' the main plate and engaging at its free end with the teeth of the winding-wheel, substantially as described.

4. rIhe main plate, formed with a circular groove on the face nearits circumference, and having the click for the winding-wheel and the spring connected with the hand-setting mechanism, attached thereto by their tixed ends,conformed to and secured in said groove, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the winding-wheel and the wheels for imparting movement to the hour-hand, arranged upon the face oi' the main plate below its surface, of the tilting lever, also arranged on the face of the main plate, and carrying a wheel at each end, the said wheels engaging at all times with a centrallyarranged wheel, and adapted to be brought into gear, one or the other, with the windingwheel or with one ot' the hour-hand wheels through the tilting of said lever, substantially as described.

6. The tilting lever, in combination with the three wheels turning on projections at the back of said lever, the main plate with a projection on its face, and a single screw retaining the lever and its wheels in position on the main plate, substantially as described.

7. The push-pin having projections upon its surface, with one end resting` against the tilting lever which carries the three gears and the other projecting through the center ring of the case, the movement outward of said pin being prevented bythe aforesaid projections, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

P. AUGUSTE VUILLE.

Witnesses:

ARNOLD BOURQUIN, WALTHER MARCHAND.

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